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Iowa Supreme Court blocks provision in new abortion law

The Iowa Supreme Court has granted the ACLU's and Planned Parenthood's emergency request for a temporary injunction to block provisions of a new abortion law signed by Gov. Terry Branstad Friday morning.

The Iowa Supreme Court has granted the ACLU's and Planned Parenthood's emergency request for a temporary injunction to block provisions of a new abortion law signed by Gov. Terry Branstad Friday morning.

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Updated: 5:24 PM CDT May 5, 2017

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WEBVTT THEY GOT THEIR WAY AT LEAST FOR, NOW.THE DAY STARTED AS A CELEBRATIONFOR SOME OF THE STATEHOUSE ASGOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD SIGNED ABILL BANNING ABORTIONS AFTER 20WEEKS.GOV. TERRY BRANSTAD: SENATE FILE471 IS ONE OF THE MOST PRO-LIFEBILLS TO PASS THE IOWALEGISLATURE IN RECENT HISTORY.HANNAH: BUT A PORTION OF IT ISNOW ON HOLD.THE IOWA SUPREME COURT HALTEDTHE 3-DAY WAITING PERIOD FRIDAY.WRITING, "THE COURT GRANTS ATEMPORARY INJUNCTION ENFORCEMENTOF SECTION 1 OF SENATE FILE 471UNTIL THIS COURT HAS ANOPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER ARESPONSE FILED BY THEAPPELLEES."RACHEL LOPEZ: I CAN SAY AT THISPOINT, WE'RE EXTREMELY THANKFULTHAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDESERVICES.HANNAH: IOWA RIGHT TO LIFE'SJENIFER BOWEN HAS THE OPPOSITEREACTION.JENIFER BOWEN: IT ISDISAPPOINTING BECAUSE IT'S ALOSS FOR WOMEN TO HAVE THATOPPORTUNITY TO BE TRULY INFORMEDAND TRULY EMPOWERED IN THEDECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE.HANNAH: FRIDAY'S DECISION ISTEMPORARY AS PLANNED PARENTHOODAND THE ACLU WORK TO TAKE THEISSUE TO COURT FOR A PERMANENTSUSPENSION.RACHEL LOPEZ: WE HAVE 100% FAITHIN THE MERITS OF OUR CASE, BUTWE NEED TIME TO GET TO COURT ANDTRY THAT CASE.HANNAH: A SPOKESPERSON FOR THEGOVERNOR SAYS THIS IS ALL A PARTAND DURING THE BILL SIGNINGBRANSTAD SAYS HE STANDS BY THELEGISLATION.GOV. BRANSTAD: I BELIEVE THELAW, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO ONES

Iowa Supreme Court blocks provision in new abortion law

The Iowa Supreme Court has granted the ACLU's and Planned Parenthood's emergency request for a temporary injunction to block provisions of a new abortion law signed by Gov. Terry Branstad Friday morning.

The Iowa Supreme Court has granted the ACLU's and Planned Parenthood's emergency request for a temporary injunction to block provisions of a new abortion signed by Gov. Terry Branstad Friday morning.

The order immediately and temporarily blocks a provision in the legislation requiring a 72-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion.

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The ACLU of Iowa said this means women scheduled to have abortion procedures Friday will be able to receive care as scheduled.

A Polk County judge on Thursday rejected the same request.

Iowa lawmakers approved a measure April 18 banning abortions at 20 weeks with no exceptions for rape, incest or fatal fetal conditions April 18. The legislation also requires women to wait 72 hours prior to getting an abortion.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland CEO Suzanna De Baca released a statement, saying in part: "This abortion restriction takes us back decades. It is among the harshest in the nation."

Iowa becomes one of three states with a 72-hour waiting period and two-trip requirement for abortions -- joining Missouri and South Dakota. Louisiana passed a similar law but it has been temporarily enjoined, according to the ACLU.

REACTION

Planned Parenthood and ACLU of Iowa are applauding the Iowa Supreme Court's decision to temporarily halt a 72-hour abortion waiting period soon after Gov. Terry Branstad enacted several restrictions.

The state will have an opportunity to respond to the temporary injunction on Monday. The court will then decide whether to extend the short-term injunction.

Planned Parenthood notes the court's action Friday allowed 44 women with scheduled abortions to proceed with their appointments. Suzanna de Baca, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, says in a statement that the law had caused confusion for patients.

She says one woman had driven seven hours to her appointment Friday and then was told she couldn't have the procedure that day. She says women were "angry and upset at the intrusion into their lives."

Ben Hammes, a spokesman for Branstad, says the state believes the 72-hour wait period will ultimately be implemented.

He calls the court's injunction "part of the process," adding that the governor expects the stay will soon be lifted.

The Attorney General's Office submitted a response asking that the injunction be denied Friday evening.